Storied College Football Programs That Will Struggle in 2020
College football has a ton of prestigious programs, but that status doesn't always lead to success.
That's especially so when turnover strikes in the form of departing star players and new coaches, which several big-name outfits are dealing with this offseason.
That's not to say that these Power Five schools won't win any games in 2020. However, with the history of national championships, conference titles or sustained success these programs have had, six- or seven-win campaigns would be big disappointments.
With Wednesday's national signing day approaching and teams around the country trying to get organized for 2020, here are five big-time programs that will struggle to meet expectations next season.
Michigan State Spartans
1 of 5
To say the Michigan State Spartans have had a disappointing couple of years would be an understatement, and things might not get much better in 2020.
The Spartans have been a roller coaster of a program since they went to the College Football Playoff in 2015—including going 3-9 the following season. Over the last two years, head coach Mark Dantonio has watched his team go 14-12 with a 9-9 Big Ten record.
During his 13-year run at the school, Dantonio has turned this program around before after disappointing seasons, but the Spartans will be lack some serious leadership in 2020. Starting quarterback Brian Lewerke and defensive stars Kenny Willekes, Raequan Williams and Joe Bachie have all graduated and will attempt to pursue NFL careers.
Replacing that kind of talent is tough for any program, and finding a new starting quarterback can always be a struggle. Rocky Lombardi, a rising redshirt junior, is the favorite to take the starting job in the season opener Sept. 5. However, Lombardi's numbers were subpar in 2019, as he completed just 33.3 percent of his passes with zero touchdowns and two interceptions in three games.
Dantonio might find a way to rally his team and prove the doubters wrong in 2020. However, with the lack of talent and a less-than ideal incoming recruiting class that sits No. 42 nationally and No. 11 in the Big Ten, and features zero 4- or 5-star prospects, it may be another couple of seasons before we see the Spartans become a conference powerhouse again.
Baylor Bears
2 of 5
The past few years have seen the Baylor Bears go from a team surrounded by sexual assault scandals and a then lack of success to one of the Big 12's more talented outfits.
The team went 11-3 with trips to both the Big 12 Championship Game and Sugar Bowl this past season under head coach Matt Rhule. It was the first time the Bears had won at least 10 games since Art Briles' final season as head coach in 2015, bringing the program back to the national spotlight.
Unfortunately for Baylor, the Bears didn't win either of those postseason games, and with Rhule now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has taken over.
Going from an offensive-minded head coach in Rhule to a defensive-minded one in Aranda could come with growing pains. Starting quarterback Charlie Brewer may struggle the most during this transition after he spent his first three college seasons under the same scheme.
At only 6'1" and 206 pounds, Brewer isn't the most physically gifted QB, but he'd gotten comfortable with Rhule's system. There's no telling how he'll fare under new offensive coordinator Larry Fedora, who was an offensive analyst for Texas this past season. The Longhorns' game plan involved a heavy dose of the running attack and had a bigger, more physical QB in Sam Ehlinger (6'3", 230 lbs).
Fedora's offense as a head coach at North Carolina was a bit more recognizable to Baylor fans: a no-huddle spread attack with Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback.
Implementing a new playbook under Fedora could keep the Bears offense from reaching its full potential, at least early on as players get acclimated. That will be even harder with last year's No. 1 receiver, Denzel Mims (66 catches, 1,020 yards, 12 TDs), heading for the NFL.
With big coaching changes and a key playmaker gone, the Bears could be facing a retooling year as they try to figure out their new identity.
Florida State Seminoles
3 of 5
The Florida State Seminoles did not give former head coach Willie Taggart a lot of time to figure things out in Tallahassee. Unfortunately for new head coach Mike Norvell, that means the pressure will be on him to turn things around as soon as possible.
That will be no easy task. Norvell is taking over a team that has won a mere 11 games over the last two seasons and is just a few years removed from a national title and a streak of five seasons with 10-plus wins.
A number of Seminoles entered the transfer portal after Norvell's December takeover, including offensive lineman Jauan Williams, tight end Tre' McKitty and cornerback Kyle Meyers.
Norvell has positives to look toward, though. Two promising NFL prospects, Marvin Wilson and Hamsah Nasirildeen, will be back in 2020. The Seminoles also have a top-20 recruiting class.
Still, Florida State has yet another new head coach after Taggart didn't even last two full years, which means another offseason of installing a new game plan and philosophy. Combine that with a tough out-of-conference schedule that includes West Virginia, Boise State and Florida, and the Seminoles might have a hard time sneaking into another bowl game next year.
UCLA Bruins
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For a team with as rich of a history as the UCLA Bruins have, the program is trending in the wrong direction.
Chip Kelly took over as head coach before the 2018 season but has gone just 7-17. That has likely put the former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach on the hot seat.
The 2020 schedule may help the Bruins, since they won't have to play some of the stiff nonconference competition they faced last year when Oklahoma and Cincinnati shut them down. Still, the Pac-12 features a lot of respectable programs, including the rising Utah Utes, who'll visit Pasadena in late October.
In addition, a large number of players are leaving the program. According to 247Sports, 14 players have either entered the transfer portal or already transferred ahead of the 2020 season.
Much of UCLA's success will depend on quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson's development. The rising junior has a lot of natural talent, but he struggled to protect the ball, throwing 12 interceptions and fumbling 11 times (seven lost).
If Thompson-Robinson can't take better care of the ball, and Kelly can't replace all of the departing talent, the Bruins could find themselves sitting at home during bowl season for the third straight year. If that happens, then Kelly could be looking for another job.
LSU Tigers
5 of 5
LSU fans have every right to be confident about their team. However, to think that Ed Orgeron and his program can go 15-0 and win another national title after everything that's happened this offseason is unrealistic.
For starters, the Tigers are losing superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
That's not the only star on his way out, however. Overall, the Tigers have 11 players graduating and nine others leaving early to go to the NFL, including the likes of Justin Jefferson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K'Lavon Chaisson, Patrick Queen and Thaddeus Moss.
Players aren't the only ones leaving. Aranda, the team's defensive coordinator, took a head coaching job with Baylor, and Rhule recruited talented Tigers passing game coordinator Joe Brady to be the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator.
It seems the only constant at LSU is Orgeron. The No. 4 recruiting class will help replace some of the talent, but the amount of blue-chip players the Tigers lost will be hard to overcome. Playing in the most competitive conference in college football, the SEC, doesn't help things either.
LSU could still be competitive in 2020, but with so much turnover, don't except another magical run.
Recruit rankings via 247Sports.
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